The one who let out a shrill shout at Faust was a petite girl, though calling her a young lady was perhaps a stretch.
Her long, pale-gold hair with hints of green cascaded down her back like a waterfall, parted into two braids, with a massive black bow clip pinned to her forehead.
She wore a dark blue, form-fitting court dress, and beneath the fishtail hem, her fair, smooth legs were bare.
Unlike her stature, her pretty face had largely shed its childishness, and her red eyeshadow even added a touch of allure.
It was just that her chest was completely flat, which left Faust with no choice but to bluntly wonder whose child she was.
The petite girl crossed her arms and held her head high, calling out to Faust:
“Why are you dragging your feet? Hurry up and come over. Don't you know the Royal Sister is waiting?”
Faust lowered his gaze slightly: “...Are you also of the imperial royal family?”
“Isn't that obvious?”
The girl placed a hand on her chest and said proudly:
“I am Eleanor Radiance. As you can see, such beauty and nobility are only possessed by members of the Radiance royal family.”
She really was. By now, Faust could more or less distinguish the Radiance royal family. It wasn't that their appearances were particularly similar, but rather that the aura of the 【Radiance King】 path was far too unique.
They seemed to be synonymous with "splendor" and "radiance," with every glance and smile carrying a dignified elegance.
Faust put one hand on his hip: “Then, Your Highness Eleanor, do you intend to lead the way? As you can see, this mansion is truly too large, and I have lost my way.”
Eleanor sighed, shook her head while supporting her forehead, and said:
“That is why men are truly... Forget it, follow me. If it weren't for the fact that the Royal Sister is waiting, I would really like to teach you a lesson!”
That was a bit impolite. If this were nearly two years ago, and you had retorted to me like that, I wouldn't have bothered arguing—after all, the Qingxi Kingdom was just a grasshopper in front of the Radiant Dynasty, easily crushed.
But now, Faust considered himself an equal even when standing before Artedinis. The Qingxi Kingdom was no longer a backwater district, and after the unification and expansion, it was qualified to have a seat at the table!
However, Eleanor was truly cute, so the Prince of Qingxi decided not to pursue the matter. Otherwise, if anyone else dared to be so disrespectful, Brother Faust would have been short of a cup to use!
The royal petite girl walked with her hands clasped behind her back, leading Faust through the maze-like Governor's Mansion.
Every few steps along the corridor stood a floor lamp with a translucent, colorful glass shade that rendered the light into a soft, warm gold.
Finally, they arrived at a semi-open courtyard space.
The dome was pieced together from colored glass, dominated by gold and blue hues. Sunlight filtered through the glass, casting mottled light and shadow on the ground—golden spots like scattered gold, blue spots like lake water, interweaving into a dreamy ocean of color.
In the center, a set of chaise longue and a low table were arranged, covered with thick velvet cushions topped with a layer of silk.
Several incense burners were scattered around the chaise longue, burning precious spices from all over the empire. The smoke rose in curls, permeating the air with an indescribable atmosphere that was both luxurious and elegant.
Artedinis was reclining on the chaise longue.
The Imperial Highness was dressed in loungewear—or more accurately, a white shirt.
The neckline was cut just right, revealing a stretch of fair, slender neck and delicate collarbones. The skin beneath the collarbones shimmered with a pearl-like luster against the moon-white fabric.
Her beige hair fell over her shoulders, with a few strands resting near her ears and neck, trembling slightly with her breathing, making her exquisite face appear even softer and more languid.
Her beauty made it impossible for anyone to look away.
The proportions of her features were as perfect as if carved by a deity. Her eyelashes were dense and long, casting faint shadows on her eyelids, fluttering gently with every blink.
The bridge of her nose was straight yet delicate, and the contours of her lips were clear and full, with a pale cherry-pink color as if kissed by the first ray of morning sunlight.
“Royal Sister, I have brought the man!”
Eleanor, who had been haughty the entire way, immediately became well-behaved in front of the Imperial Highness. She called out and trotted over to Artedinis's side.
The Imperial Highness then closed the tome in her hands, patted Eleanor's head, and said something that made the petite girl nod repeatedly before she retreated from the courtyard.
Afterward, Artedinis raised her eyes, looking straight at him with the one indigo eye not obscured by her hair.
Her gaze always held a hint of languid amusement and playful curiosity.
“Welcome, Prince Faust.”
Artedinis stood up and invited Faust to be seated.
The Prince sat opposite the Imperial Highness with ease and said: “I am honored by the invitation. Does Your Highness have any private matters to discuss with me, to have specifically invited me over?”
“I assume it cannot be official business; otherwise, there would be no need for a private meeting, or even to send your royal sister away.”
Upon hearing this, Artedinis widened her pupils slightly, feigning surprise as she covered her mouth:
“Asking directly? I thought Prince Faust was the type who excelled at discussing romantic affairs?”
Faust: “Why would you think that? We aren't that close.”
Artedinis shrugged and smiled:
“Because there is a certain affinity, so I couldn't help but want to chat a bit more. But since Prince Faust has no heart for such things, let us get straight to the point.”
“I watched the entire duel last night. It was truly impressive. Although Alexander's strength relied entirely on artifacts, I must admit that even for me, suppressing an Alexander who wields the 【Heroic Hymn】 in a direct confrontation would be tricky.”
Was it really just tricky?
Faust sensed from the Imperial Highness's words that she did not regard other brave ones with much weight, and he said calmly:
“Just a stroke of luck.”
Artedinis shook her head with a smile:
“That was no stroke of luck. Danilla told me that you only defeated him after entering the Ultimate Intent of the 【martial saint】.”
“That seemed impossible to achieve, yet you succeeded, and with such effortless grace. Coupled with that entirely unnecessary conflict, I am forced to believe that what that Lady of the Lake told me is indeed true. I invited you here today to verify it in person.”
Faust couldn't help but ask curiously:
“What did Azure Maiden tell you?”
She couldn't have revealed the existence of Mephistopheles, could she? If the Sanctuary found out that the fairy bound to my contract was the Sacred Deity, they would be lining up to kowtow.
Faust did not want to get too deeply entangled with the Sanctuary, and neither he nor Mephistopheles had any lingering attachment to the title of 【Sacred Deity】.
【I do not believe Azure Maiden would dare say that. My name carries a curse; for those who already know of my existence, it can be spoken, but to broadcast it widely, Azure Maiden does not have the courage to bear the curse.】
Artedinis spun the teacup on the low table, tilted her head, and said calmly:
“She said... you are the same as me, an awakened one who has seen through fate.”
“Noticing fate, comprehending fate, utilizing fate, and acting as an actor on this grand stage, dancing as you please.”
Rate on N.U.
